What medical testing should Rebreather divers get?

[Okeanos]

I believe that breathing from a rebreather is easier than breathing from an open circuit regulator.

There isn't a rebreather on the market that is as easy to breath as an open circuit regulator. The Work Of Breathing of any rebreather is always noticeable, the only units that has been tested to reach the standards to my knowledge are the APD units. Whereas a regulator easily surpasses WOB standards.

Any diver should be fit. There are so many unkowns in diving and human physiology that it is impossible to find out who is 'fit to dive'. I complete a HSE medical in the UK every year, which includes :- Hearing, lung function (spirometry and peak flow), eyesight, fitness (VO2 max calculation based on a step test), neurological, ECG for over 40's and diabetes to name a few. This test is required for anyone working in the diving industry in the UK from DiveMaster upwards.

If every diver had to complete this Medical Exam I wonder how many would pass just the 'fitness' test?

[acelockco]

Any diver should be fit. There are so many unknowns in diving and human physiology that it is impossible to find out who is 'fit to dive'. I complete a HSE medical in the UK every year

Unfortunately our government in the US doesn't pay for our medical insurance. If it is impossible to find out who is fit to dive as you said, what help is taking a medical test?

Everything in life has risks, if someone is really worried, then maybe they should stay home and hide from the world. In the mean time, I would rather die diving then waste my entire life hiding from everything exciting.

I also think diver education is going to do much more for diver safety then a medical exam.

[The Publisher]

I have used both the Cis-Lunar Mark 6 and the Inspiration. My personal observations about work of breathing, a strange term in itself, is not calibrated like a wob test rig like used by APD.

I dove with a pilot valve style open circuit regulator for decades. Once my reg cracked open, especially if I were to inhale fast and deep, it opens up to the point where there was a slight overpressure. When using that as a comparison, Okeanos is right....

With shoulder mounted counterlungs such as the Mark 6 and Inspo, my personal results are it does not give me a slight overpressure like my 2nd stage did, but at no time unless I had insufficient counterlung volume from descending did it ever feel like it required any effort in the slightest.....so I see Lars' point.

But I hear rear mounted counterlung designs like the Draeger can be a pain to breathe from depending on body attitude.

Yet contrast that with the Boris that uses huge gas pathways and users do not report Draeger like issues.

I think both camps posting here are right in what is said about wob because it all depends on the counterlung location, the design, and what open circuit regulator you are comparing too, as I have used open circuit regs that took an effort I could discern to breathe from, whereas my Inspo and the Mark 6 does not.

[lars2923]

Why would a rebreather diver need a medical vs an OW diver?

[Okeanos]

Why would a rebreather diver need a medical vs an OW diver?

If you're asking Helen I doubt if she will respond

I think all divers should have a full medical, just to be on the safer side of things.

[The Publisher]

What spammer?!

[Okeanos]

What spammer?!

You was hungry and ate it

Do you have spam (the meat) in the states?

[acelockco]

I think all divers should have a full medical, just to be on the safer side of things.

And you are going to pay for this, right?

Enough with the requirements, we have enough political BS to deal with already. We really don't need the government having us jump through more hoops. I say if you feel you should have a full medical, no one is stopping you from getting one, but don't force me to have one and don't make decisions for me as I am perfectly capable of making them on my own.

[The Publisher]

It would be safer mandating helmet use for all operators of motor vehicles too to cut down on everything from traumatic head injuries to owies

I suppose it is a slippery slope if we mandate medical exams for CCR divers....I don't like the idea of getting the governments permission to do much of anything, but hey, I am sort of funny that way! lol.

[Okeanos]

And you are going to pay for this, right?

Enough with the requirements, we have enough political BS to deal with already. We really don't need the government having us jump through more hoops. I say if you feel you should have a full medical, no one is stopping you from getting one, but don't force me to have one and don't make decisions for me as I am perfectly capable of making them on my own.

I know where you're coming from and I would probably agree. I have to have a medical to teach or work underwater, yet I can drive a taxi/bus etc. with no medical/test whatsoever. Which is more dangerous?

I am a great believer in keeping fit (any level of fitness is better than none) and would like to see fitter divers. The HSE medical in the UK has a fitness test which is why I would like to see divers having a medical, not every year but maybe every 5 years.